If Fox turns out to be the next Dave Bolland for us, do we give gitch80 credit or do we give ol bug eyes the credit?

According to hockeyfights.com, Bollard has had two career fights, one in the NHL (2011/12) and the other one in the OHL (2004/05). Fox has had 18 fights since 2009/10. He is definitely "grittier" than Bolland ever will.

One thing for sure, Fox has a pretty good shot, especially one-timer.

Let's just hope he keeps his fighting on the ice and doesn't pull a Luchic

Archibald has been sent back down to Utica. Torts indicated today that Booth will play in Anaheim, AND another forward from Utica will be called up. Speculation on Twitter is that forward will be Jensen.

After a strong showing at the Penticton Young Stars tournament, Jensen has had a rather pedestrian showing this season with a forgettable preseason followed up with only five goals and nine points in 29 games with Utica. It should be noted that Jensen is on fire as of late, with four goals and an assist in his last three games. Is he breaking out, or is this just his shooting percentage evening out from an unsustainably low rate?

I’d like to see Jensen play with Kesler and Kassian. We need goals, so give the guy who is supposed to be our goal scoring prospect who is most NHL ready some quality ice time. That would likely bump Higgins down to the third line, and create what should be an excellent Higgins-Santorelli-Hansen third line.

herb wrote:Re Jensen: Is he breaking out, or is this just his shooting percentage evening out from an unsustainably low rate?

I think he's just showing signs of coming back from his shoulder surgery and getting back up to speed. No doubt Travis Green and company have a challenge with trying to teach him the pro game, manage the kid's confidence/ego and remain patient with the losses mounting.

I'd rather he stay on the farm and get his mojo back scoring in the 'A' vice getting pigeon-holed with high expectations on the big club. Let's not rush the kid now that he's popped a couple.

herb wrote:Re Jensen: Is he breaking out, or is this just his shooting percentage evening out from an unsustainably low rate?

I think he's just showing signs of coming back from his shoulder surgery and getting back up to speed. No doubt Travis Green and company have a challenge with trying to teach him the pro game, manage the kid's confidence/ego and remain patient with the losses mounting.

I'd rather he stay on the farm and get his mojo back scoring in the 'A' vice getting pigeon-holed with high expectations on the big club. Let's not rush the kid now that he's popped a couple.

Plus he's a Dane, should have been expected that he would be a smidgen slower in development/late bloomer, should be much more dominant when he turns 22 barring injuries of course.

After a strong showing at the Penticton Young Stars tournament, Jensen has had a rather pedestrian showing this season with a forgettable preseason followed up with only five goals and nine points in 29 games with Utica. It should be noted that Jensen is on fire as of late, with four goals and an assist in his last three games. Is he breaking out, or is this just his shooting percentage evening out from an unsustainably low rate?

Full disclosure, I don't watch the games so this is second hand info from folks who do (who generally seem to be credible from what I can tell).

Jensen's play this year has been inconsistent but there have been stretches where he had an impact on the game - creating chances, generating shots etc. but was very unlucky not to put points on the board. This latest stretch is one like that and in fact some feel he should have been credited with another assist so there's six points in three games for what it's worth (sweet fuck all).

That said he's apparently also had long stretches of ineffectual play and I don't know why - the shoulder, confidence, laziness, being a one dimensional winger on a team lacking effective centers and just a pretty bad team in general.. probably some combination of all of it.

The part of me that holds out some hope for Jensen recalls AV being very impressed at his first training camp, and I recall the impression that he's the type of player that performs better with higher level linemates. He certainly doesn't have that in Utica although if that's what it takes for him to prove he belongs in the NHL he might simply never get there.

Between the Chicago Wolves being not really all that interested in developing our young guys and Utica being just an awful team, having a shitty farm team environment for our young players sucks.

In Chicago it seemed like the Wolves lack of interest in playing our young guys affected at least partly the development of guys like Schroeder, Kassian, Archibald and Mallet who were given limited roles or bumped down to the ECHL. In Utica, the shitty team I'm sure has made things harder for our prospects.

Hopefully next year, with the likely additions of Fox and Gaunce, as well as continued improvement in net from Ericsson and Cannata, the team can be more competitive. Maybe we should hope for an early exit by the Erie Otters so these guys can get to Utica this season!